Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the generation and characterization of neutralizing anti-IFN-? monoclonal antibodies with broad reactivity against various IFN-? subtypes. The invention further relates to the use of such anti-IFN-? antibodies in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders associated with increased expression of IFN-?, in particular, autoimmune disorders such as insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Abstract: A differential device differentially distributes a driving force to first and second axles. The differential device is comprised of a differential gear set configured to allow differential motion between the first and second axles, a casing rotatable about an axis, the casing housing and being drivingly coupled with the differential gear set and including a first end wall, a second end wall axially opposed to the first end wall, and a side wall disposed radially outward, which in combination with the first end wall and the second end wall defines a chamber configured to house the differential gear set, a clutch engageable with the differential gear set, a solenoid configured to drive the clutch, which is disposed adjacent to the first end wall, and a magnetic core fixed to the solenoid. The magnetic core is comprised of a sleeve portion snugly and slidably fitting around an outer periphery of the side wall to radially position the core and the solenoid in place.

Abstract: A control system for an electric machine, the control system including a position sensor and a drive controller. The drive controller generates one or more control signals for exciting a winding of the electric machine in response to edges of a signal output by the position sensor. The times at which the control signals are generated by the drive controller are corrected by a position-sensor offset that is fixed over an operating speed range of the electric machine.

Abstract: Cementitious compositions in which the cementitious properties of fly ash are carefully controlled are described. The cementitious compositions may be substantially free harsh acids and bases such as citric acids (?pH 2.2) and alkali metal activators including alkali hydroxides (?pH 12-14) and metal carbonates (?pH 11.6). The use of these harsh chemicals creates acid base reactions during use of the products. Instead of these harsh chemicals, a lactic acid salt based activator is be used as a reaction accelerator. Boric compounds may be used as a retarder in the compositions.

Abstract: A fan assembly for creating an air current includes an air outlet mounted on a stand. The stand includes a base and a body tiltable relative to the base. The fan assembly has a center of gravity located so that when the base is located on a substantially horizontal support surface, the projection of the center of gravity on the support surface is within the footprint of the base when the body is in a fully tilted position.

Abstract: A hand-held saw with a rigid saw frame is disclosed. The rigid frame of the hand-held saw allows a saw blade to remain highly tensioned during the cutting process. The rigid saw frame has a “C-shape,” is unbent, and contains openings that make up a truss-like structure, which distributes an external force that is focused on one portion of the saw frame across other portions of the saw frame.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a polishing pad prevents slurry leaks and provides a pad that can be used to provide high optical detection accuracy. The method for manufacturing a polishing pad includes forming a groove for injecting a light-transmitting region forming material on the back surface of a polishing layer; injecting the light-transmitting region forming material into the groove and curing the material to form a light-transmitting region; and buffing the front surface of the polishing layer to expose the light-transmitting region on the front surface.

Abstract: A surface treating appliance includes a main body and a head rotatably connected to the main body about an axis, the main body and the head being provided with first and second electrical connectors, respectively. The first and second electrical connectors can be connected to provide an electrical connection between the main body and the head. One of the first and second electrical connectors is slideable within a channel. By providing an electrical connector within a channel, complicated and potentially unreliable arrangements such as slip-rings can be avoided while still providing an electrical connection between the head and the main body.

Abstract: A drying apparatus has a casing, a cavity formed in the casing for receiving an object, a fan located in the casing and creating an airflow, a motor arranged to drive the fan. At least one opening communicates with the fan and is arranged in the casing so as to direct an airflow transversely across the cavity. The motor and fan arrangement generate an airflow across the cavity, wherein, in use, the pressure of the airflow emitted through the opening is at least 8 kPa. The motor has a rotor which, in use, may rotate at a speed of at least 80,000 rpm. The high velocity, high pressure airflow provided by the apparatus is capable of drying an object efficiently and quickly and is suitable for use in a hand dryer.

Abstract: A nitride semiconductor light-emitting device includes an n type nitride semiconductor layer, a light-emitting layer formed on the n type nitride semiconductor layer, a first p type nitride semiconductor layer formed on the light-emitting layer, an intermediate layer formed on the first p type nitride semiconductor layer to alternately cover and expose a surface of the first p type nitride semiconductor layer, and a second p type nitride semiconductor layer formed on the intermediate layer. The intermediate layer is made of a compound containing Si and N as constituent elements.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises a fixing part for fixing a toner image formed on a transfer material to the transfer material, a fan provided on the downstream side of the fixing part, for blowing air to the transfer material having passed through the fixing part, and an airflow control part for controlling the amount of air to be blown from the fan. When the basis weight of the transfer material is larger than a first threshold value, the airflow control part sets the amount of air to be blown to a value smaller than that in a case where the basis weight of the transfer material is smaller than the first threshold value.

Abstract: Register includes flip-flop circuits each constructed to retain data of n bit in synchronism with a clock pulse, the register retaining a multiplication result of a multiplier dividedly by the flip-flop circuits, n bit per flip-flop circuit. For each of a first and second numeric value data to be multiplied by the multiplier, a control circuit detects the number of consecutive zeros from the lowest-order bit of the data and performs control, on the basis of the detected number of the consecutive zeros and for each flip-flop circuit, as to whether or not the clock pulse should be supplied to the flip-flop circuit. The control circuit obtains an integral quotient value x by dividing by the number n the sum between the detected numbers for the first and second numeric value data, to stop the clock pulse supply to a particular number x of flip-flop circuit counted from the lowest-order.

Abstract: A wind turbine includes a rotor having adjustable rotor blades for driving a generator and an adjusting device for the rotor blades provided with an actuator that comprises at least an excitation winding. The adjusting device includes a torque-reducing device that automatically reduces drag torque of the actuator. The torque-reducing device includes a current divider that switches the current through the excitation winding in such a manner that the current flows completely through the excitation coil when the motor is in operation and the current only partly flows through the excitation coil when coasting (slip operation). As a result, when coasting, the magnetization of the excitation winding is reduced about the adjusting device, whereby the increase of the speed torque characteristic curve can be determined, thus improving the ratio of the adjusting device when coasting.

Abstract: An audio network system that performs transport of audio signals between nodes by cascading a plurality of nodes each including two sets of transmission I/Fs and reception I/Fs, and circulating among the nodes in each fixed period an audio transport frame generated by a master node, the audio transport frame including a plurality of storage regions for audio signals, is configured such that when the configuration of the system is changed, loopback of the audio transport frame in each node and release thereof are automatically controlled to automatically loop back the transport of the audio transport frame at nodes at both ends and not loop back it at the other nodes to thereby form a loop transmission route among the nodes.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods facilitate positioning of a cardiac valve annulus treatment device, thus enhancing treatment of the annulus. Methods generally involve advancing an anchor delivery device through vasculature of the patient to a location in the heart for treating the valve annulus, contacting the anchor delivery device with a length of the valve annulus, delivering a plurality of coupled anchors from the anchor delivery device to secure the anchors to the annulus, and drawing the anchors together to circumferentially tighten the valve annulus. Devices generally include an elongate catheter having at least one tensioning member and at least one tensioning actuator for deforming a distal portion of the catheter to help it conform to a valve annulus. The catheter device may be used to navigate a subannular space below a mitral valve to facilitate positioning of an anchor delivery device.

Abstract: The invention relates to heterocyclyl-substituted dihydroquinazolines of formula (I), to processes for their preparation, to medicaments containing them, and to methods for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases, in particular, for use as anti-viral agents, in particular, against cytomegaloviruses.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises: a rotatable image carrier operable to carry a toner image on a surface thereof; a transfer part operable to electrostatically transfer the toner image carried on the surface of the image carrier, onto a transfer material; a cleaning member that is in contact with the surface of the image carrier and that is operable to clean toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier after transfer by the transfer part; and a voltage supplier operable to apply, to the cleaning member, a bias voltage that is for cleaning the surface of the image carrier and that has a polarity opposite to a normal charging polarity of the toner.

Abstract: A network activity detection system is trained to detect network activities of interest such as threats by malicious computer data. The training involves distilling the characteristics of known network activities of interest (e.g., intrusion by computer viruses, exploits, worms, or the like) into a minimal set of meta-expressions. At run-time, the network activity detection system combines the minimal set of meta-expressions with efficient computer algorithms for evaluating meta-expressions to detect known network activities of interest, as well as their unknown variants, among an unknown set of network activity. The network activity detection system may produce appropriate responses upon the detection of network activities of interest.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of Parapoxviruses in combination with other agents for the treatment of viral diseases, and in particular HIV infections and AIDS. The invention also relates to methods for producing medicaments based on combinations of Parapoxviruses and other antiviral agents, and to such medicaments. In particular, the invention relates to the use of Parapoxviruses in combination with agents of the kind used for antiretroviral therapy and highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).